SAS have sent a message in a bottle to parliament as part of a campaign to encourage the public to write to their MPs calling on them to support a deposit return system (DRS) in the UK.

The system works by consumers returning used drinks cans and bottles and getting some cash back for their trouble. DRS schemes already work successfully in Denmark, Germany, the US and some Australian states to name but a few.

Each day the UK uses a shocking 38.5 million plastic bottles and 59 million cans

This Message In A Bottle action calls on supporters to write and post a letter calling on their elected representatives in Westminster to pilot and support the introduction of a nationwide deposit system in the UK.

Each day the UK uses a shocking 38.5 million plastic bottles and 59 million cans, of which only 56% are recycled.

Introducing a DRS, similar to many of our European counterparts, will help ensure these containers are trapped in the recycling economy rather than escaping to pollute our oceans.

Caroline Lucas of the Green Party

Working alongside co-leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas MP, SAS has launched an ‘Early Day Motion’ to government directing MPs to support the motion so that this important issue can be debated in the Houses of Parliament and included in the government’s imminent National Litter Strategy.

Leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas MP said:

“In the UK, we use an estimated 38.5 million plastic bottles every day, yet shockingly, we fail to recycle almost half of these. That’s over 16 million going to landfill or polluting our cities, coastline, and countryside daily.”

“We need common-sense and effective ways to help deliver a more sustainable economy. One such is approach is deposit return systems – these could significantly increase reuse and recycling rates, and reduce litter and plastic pollution in our environment. Please support Surfers Against Sewage’s Message In A Bottle campaign and write to your MP calling for a deposit return system for the UK as part of the National Litter Strategy.”

Hugo Tagholm of Surfers Against Sewage said about the campaign:

“Fighting plastic pollution in our oceans has rapidly become Surfers Against Sewage’s priority issue. Our beaches are awash with single use plastic bottles and we desperately need new systems to reuse, recycle and up-cycle them more effectively. Deposit return systems are a proven way of capturing up to 90% of plastic bottles and containers, and would offer the UK a huge step forward in stopping plastic pollution. Please ask your MP to support our call today”

To show your support SAS are urging people to write to their MPs, To download your letter writing guide please visit www.sas.org.uk.